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Like it or not, we're not winning the war on drugs
Vic Barlow11/ 6/2008
SO, SOME poor unsuspecting Chinese man has been arrested on the Macclesfield premises of a cannabis farm. Ah Tong Lin was in debt to Chinese gangsters for his illegal passage to England and ended up in the dock like a frightened rabbit.
Apparently it’s now easier to get drugs in Strangeways than it is on the streets of Manchester yet we are spending billions trying to keep drugs out of the country.
If we can’t prevent narcotics entering a high security prison what chance have we of keeping drugs off our streets? What success have we had so far?
Meanwhile thousands of victims fall into the hands of violent drug gangs with no morals whatsoever and little interest in the depravation and destruction their evil trade creates.
Of course we need to wean addicts off drugs but can't we do it legally under medical supervision instead of pushing users into the clutches of the drug barons?
Whatever your opinion the truth is we are not winning the drug war and like it or not we need an alternative strategy.
The one positive thing we CAN do is to decriminalise and supervise their use via government-run clinics.
With no need for an illegal backstreet supply, much of the associated crime would disappear over night.
I think there may be a lot of distraught parents worried sick about their addictive children who would welcome such a move.
What do YOU think?
The views expressed on this page are Vic Barlow's and not necessarily those of the Express
Most recent 2 of 12 user comments
Neither of the last posters have presented any alternative to a system which has clearly failed - as the article says. The legalisation argument is not water-tight - but it's a hell of a sight stronger than any other.
It would marginalise the hard drugs takers - and, whatever else you say, they are not marginalised in a system in which half the country have taken illegal drugs. They are part and parcel of the same networks that see media and creative industries folk snorting coke; and students smoking spliffs.
18/06/2008 at 12:14
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Regarding illegal booze my point was not necessarily related to the UK. In Pakistan people regulary die from drinking binges made of illegally made alcohol, i cant see them deciding to legalise it on the basis that some people break the law and drink it. The other point being do you really think criminals with all the facilities, distribution networks and money to manufacture or harvest and sell illegal drugs will stop because the government legalises them? Of course they wouldnt, they would just make stronger or different or cheaper drugs. Does a methodone addict stop buying heroin because they can methodone legally?
No i havent presented an alternative system - I'm not that naive to think there is one available.
19/06/2008 at 03:53